Here’s Why Iowans Should Be Concerned About These Letters (EEE)

The CDC is reporting a concern about a possible uptick in cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).  From 2003 to 2023, there were 196 reported cases. The country reports an average of 11 cases annually. The largest outbreak occurred in 2019 with 38 cases and 12 deaths nationwide.

Iowa reports the following diseases caused by what are referred to as Potential Bioterrorism Agents: Category B. They include  St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), LaCrosse Encephalitis (LAC), West Nile Virus (WNV)

The CDC says There are hundreds of viruses worldwide that are spread through insects or other arthropods. More than 30 of these arboviruses have been identified as human pathogens in the Western Hemisphere. In Iowa, four mosquito-borne arboviruses that cause encephalitis in humans have been identified: LaCrosse encephalitis (LAC), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), Western Equine encephalitis (WEE), and West Nile virus (WNV).

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The reports of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are on the rise though very rare in the US. Although rare, eastern equine encephalitis is very serious. Approximately 30% of people with eastern equine encephalitis die, and many survivors have ongoing neurologic problems. Symptoms of eastern equine encephalitis can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, and drowsiness.  There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat eastern equine encephalitis.  You can reduce your risk of infection with the eastern equine encephalitis virus by preventing mosquito bites.

How many cases are there of the encephalitis virus this year?

There have been five confirmed human cases of EEEV in the United States in 2024 – one each in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire.

What is Encephalitis?

Encephalitis is a rare but serious condition that causes inflammation of the brain's active tissues. The inflammation can be caused by a viral infection, such as herpes simplex or West Nile virus, or less commonly by bacterial or fungal infections, cancer, or certain drugs or toxins. It can also be caused by an autoimmune response.

Some of the data according to the CDC could be askew because of lax reporting by states.